Tear gas gun



March 15, 1955 Filed Jan. 4, 1952 J. A. LIZON 2,703,942

TEAR GAS GUN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.5

- INVENTOR JOHN A. Uzou mm; W Hand 4.071 7/76 [9 ATTORNEYS March 15, 1955 J. A. LIZON 2,703,942

TEAR GAS GUN Filed Jan. 4, 1952 2 SheetsSheet 2 Fig.4 e3 53 62 INVENTOR JQHN A. Uzom 0720mm WW *0 772 p ATTORNEYS Unite States atet TEAR GAS GUN John A. Lizon, North Tonawanda, N. Y.

Application January 4, 1952, Serial No. 265,009

3 Claims. (Cl. 42-1) This invention relates to an improved electrically operated tear gas gun adapted to be fixedly mounted in a room, such as a bank, jewelry store, or ofiice, for operation by an occupant of such a room to assist 1n preventing robbery.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved electrically operated tear gas gun wh ch can be conveniently located in an inconspicuous place in a room, such as a banking room, and operated by remote control to direct tear gas to a selected location, such as the area adjacent a bank tellers window; which fires more than one gas cartridge at the same time and directs the gas from all cartridges to the same area; which draws no electric current in either its cocked or firing position, but utilizes electric current only during a brief interval while firing; which will remain in cocked position for long periods of time without deterioratlon and without danger of accidental discharge; which is easy to reload when necessary; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and positive and effective in operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a tear gas gun illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the tear gas gun illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation on the line 5--5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit of the tear gas gun; and

Figure 7 is a top plan view similar to Figure 1, but showing the parts in different operative positions from those illustrated in Figure 1.

With continued reference to the drawings, the illustrated tear gas gun comprises a fiat base 10 of elongated, rectangular shape and formed of a strong and rigid material, such as metal. This base has at one end a lateral perpendicularly disposed portion 11 provided with spaced apart and substantially parallel shell chambers 12 and 13 which extend open at one end through the base and at their other ends through the outer end of the portion 11. With the gun operatively mounted in a room, the portion 11 depends from the base with the shell chambers 12 and 13 directed toward the area to which it is desired to project tear gas.

Tear gas shells, as indicated at 14 and 15, are normally disposed one in each of the chambers 12 and 13, with their rims, as indicated at 16, resting on the upper surface of the base 10 surrounding the corresponding chamber. A fiat breech plate 18 is detachably mounted on the upper surface of the base 10 by suitable means, such as the screw 19, which extends through a transversely extending slot in the breech plate, the plate 18 being in partially covering relationship to the adjacent ends of the shell chambers 12 and 13. The plate 18 is of generally rectangular shape, and is provided in its edge adjacent to the shell chambers with an elongated notch 20 which exposes the priming caps 21 and 22 of the tear gas shells 14 and present in the chambers.

An electric solenoid, generally indicated at 25, is

mounted on the base 10 at a location spaced from the breech plate 18 and at a location adjacent to the end of the base remote from the lateral or depending gun portion 11. This solenoid has a frame 26 supporting a hollow coil 27, and an armature or solenoid core 28 is slidably received in the bore of the hollow coil 27 and is longitudinally movable relative to the coil.

Laterally spaced lugs 30 and 31 upstand from the base 10 between the base plate 18 and the solenoid 25, and are disposed near opposite side edges of the base 10.

The lugs 30 and 31 are provided near their upper ends with notches 32 and 33, respectively, of rectangular shape opening to the edges of the lugs adjacent the breech plate 18. A lever 34 is received at one end in the notch 32 in the lug 30 and is pivotally connected at such end to the lug by suitable means, such as the screw 35, threaded into a tapped hole in the lug which extends transversely of the notch 32 and through an aperture in the corresponding end of the lever. A lever 36 is received at one end in the notch 33 in the lug 31 and pivotally secured to the lug 31 by a screw 37 similar to the screw 35. The two levers 34 and 36 are swingable about corresponding axes disposed substantially perpendicularly to the base 10 and may be positioned to extend transversely of the base between the lugs 30 and 31, as illustrated in Figure 1. At their free ends the levers 34 and 36 are recessed to provide interfitting tongues 38 and 39, and these tongues are provided with holes which register with each other when the levers extend between the lugs 30 and 31, as described above.

A tapered pin 40 is secured to the solenoid armature 28, at the end of the armature facing the breech plate 18, and projects longitudinally from the armature. This pin 40 is arranged to be extended through the holes in the tongues 38 and 39 of the levers 34 and 36, as illustrated in Figure 4, to releasably hold these levers in position extending between the lugs 30 and 31 for a purpose which will presently appear.

A bracket 42 has an elongated, rectangular portion mounted on the base 10 between the lugs 30 and 31 by suitable means, such as the screws 43, and upstanding end portions or arms 44 and 45 disposed adjacent the inner sides of the lugs 30 and 31, respectively.

A U-shaped hammer, generally indicated at 50, includes spaced apart and substantially parallel legs 51 and 52 and a bar or bight portion, the legs having free ends which are received between the upstanding arms 44 and 45 of the bracket 42. The legs 51 and 52 of the hammer are provided near their free ends with longitudinally aligned holes, and the end portions 44 and 45 of the bracket 42 are provided with holes which register with the corresponding holes in the legs of the hammer. A hinge pin 54 extends through the registering holes in the arms 44 and 45 of the bracket 42 and in the legs 51 and 52 of the hammer and pivotally connects the hammer to the bracket 42 for swinging movements of the hammer between its elevated and cocked position, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, and its depressed firing position, as illustrated in Figure 7.

A helical spring 55 is circumposed on the hinge pin 54 between the hammer legs 51 and 52 and has on one end an arm 56 bearing on the upper surface of the base 10 and at its other end an arm 57 bearing against the s de of the hammer bar 53 facing the solenoid 25 for resllrently engaging the hammer from its cocked position to its firing position.

The hammer bar 53 is provided with apertures 60 and 61 of cruciform shape disposed one near each end thereof, and firing pins 62 and 63 extend through these apertures and are secured in adjusted position in the hammer bar by suitable means, such as washers, as indicated at 64 and 65 in Figure 3, receiving the firing pin 62 and disposed one at each side of the hammer bar 53, and a nut 66 threaded onto the screw-threaded end portion of the firing pin 62 adjacent the solenoid 25 and bearing against the adjacent washer 65, the washer 64 being permanently secured on the firing pin by suitable means, such as by being welded thereto.

The firing pins 62 and 63 are positioned so that when the hammer is in its firing position the pins are centered relative to the shell chambers 12 and 13 and strike the priming caps 21 and 22 of the shells 14 and 15 mounted in the firing chambers as the hammer moves from its cocked to its firing position, so as to explode the shells.

In order to cock the gun, the hammer 50 is swung against the resistance of spring 55 to a position in which it extends substantially perpendicularly from the adjacent side of the base 10. The levers 34 and 36 are then swung laterally inwardly until they are substantially in contact with the side of the hammer adjacent the breech plate 18. The armature 28 of the solenoid 25 is then pulled out and advanced toward the breech plate 18, and the tapered pin 40 inserted through the holes in the lever tongues 38 and 39 whereby the levers 34 and 36 are held in positions extending between the lugs 30 and 31 and against the adjacent side of the hammer 50. The hammer is then released and the spring 55 forces the hammer agamst the adjacent sides of the levers 34 and 36. The levers hold the hammer in cocked position as long as they are locked together by the pin 40.

In order to fire the gun, the solenoid 25 is energized and, when energized, the solenoid retracts the armature 28 and pulls the tapered pin 40 out of the holes in the lever tongues 38 and 39 and frees the levers. The hammer, acting under the force of the spring 57, then swings the levers aside and descends toward the base, bringing the firing pins 62 and 63 against the priming caps 21 and 22 of the shells 14 and 15 and firing the shells.

After the shells have been fired they are replaced by moving the breech plate 18 to uncover the adjacent ends of the shell chambers, removing the exploded shells, and inserting new shells in the chambers 12 and 13, and then securing the breech plate in place overlying the ends of the shells by tightening the screw 19. The hammer 50 is then again cocked in the manner indicated above, and the gun is ready to fire again when required.

A normally closed switch 70 is mounted on the base at the end of the base from which the perpendicularly disposed portion 11 projects, and an operating lever in the form of a leaf spring 71 extends from one end of the switch. A pin 72 is secured at one end in the bar 53 at the hammer 50 and projects outwardly from the hammer in a direction away from and substantially parallel to the hammer legs 51 and 52. When the hammer is in its firing position, as illustrated in Figure 7, the pin 72 depresses the outer end of the switch lever 71 and opens the switch 70 and holds it open.

The wiring diagram for the solenoid 25, as illustrated in Figure 6, includes a conductor 75 leading from one wire 76 of a two-wire power line to one side of the solenoid coil 27, a conductor 77 leading from the other wire 78 of the two-wire power line to one side of the switch 71, a conductor 79 leading from the other side of the switch 71 to one side of a normally open manually operated switch, such as the push-button switch 80, and a conductor 81 leading from the other side of the manually operated switch to the other side of the solenoid coil 27.

With this arrangement, as long as the manually operated switch 80 is open, no current flows through the solenoid coil. When the manually operated switch 80 is closed, current flows through the coil 27 and energizes the solenoid, and, as soon as the hammer 50 has reached its firing position the pin 72 strikes downwardly upon the switch operating lever 71 and opens the switch 70 so that the solenoid is deenergized. In this way, current is supplied to the solenoid only during a brief interval while the gun is being fired.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A tear gas gun comprising a base having at one end a laterally disposed portion provided with shell-receiving chambers extending longitudinally therethrough from one end to the other, a breech plate detachably mounted on said base in partial covering relationship to the adjacent ends of said chambers, a solenoid mounted on said base at a location spaced from said breech plate having an armature movable toward and away from said plate, lugs upstanding from said base between said solenoid and said breech plate and spaced apart transversely of said base, a U-shaped hammer having its open end disposed between said lugs and pivotally connected to said base and having at its other end a transversely extending bar which overlies the ends of said shell chambers adjacent said breech plate when said hammer is in firing position, firing pins carried by said bar and centered one relative to each of said shell chambers, spring means connected between said base and said hammer resiliently urging said hammer from its cocked position to its firing position, levers pivotally connected one to each of said lugs at one end thereof and at locations substantially equally spaced from said base for swinging movements about axes substantially perpendicular to said base, said levers being recessed to provide interfitting tongues at the free ends thereof and provided with holes in said tongues which register with each other when said levers extend transversely of said base with their tongues in interfitting relationship, a tapered pin on the end of the armature of said solenoid adjacent said levers, said pin being extendable through apertures formed in said tongues to releasably hold said levers in position transversely of said base with said hammer in cocked position bearing against the sides of said levers adjacent said solenoid, said solenoid being effective when energized to withdraw said tapered pin from the tongues on said levers and permit said spring means to move said hammer from its cocked to its firing position, and an energizing circuit for said solenoid including a normally open manually operated switch and a normally closed switch mounted on said base, said hammer having a portion arranged to operatively engage and open said normally closed switch while the hammer is in firing position.

2. In a tear gas gun, a base, a gun portion projecting laterally from said base and provided with at least one tear gas shell chamber extending longitudinal of said gun portion and opening through opposite ends of the gun portion, a hammer having an end pivoted to said base at a point between said gun portion and one end of the base to swing on an axis extending across said base, said hammer having another end having a head, at least one firing pin secured to said head in a position to register with a shell chamber and strike and explode a tear gas shell present in such shell chamber as said hammer is moved toward said base into firing position from a cocked position away from said base, a solenoid mounted on said base at said one end of the base, said solenoid having an armature movable toward and away from said hammer, said armature having a retaining pin, spring means acting between said base and said hammer and urging said hammer toward its firing position, retaining means pivoted on said base and movable from a release position to a retaining position of engagement with said hammer for holding the hammer in its cocked position, said retaining means having a hole engageable by said retaining pin only in the retaining position of said retaining means, said solenoid being normally deenergized and said armature being arranged to be manually moved relative to the solenoid while the solenoid is deenergized and engaged in the hole in the retaining means whereby the hammer is retained in cocked position, and energizing means connectible to said solenoid for energizing the solenoid and withdrawing the armature retaining pin from the hole of the retaining means.

3. In a tear gas gun, a base, a gun portion projecting laterally from said base and provided with at least one tear gas shell chamber extending longitudinal of said gun portion and opening through opposite ends of the gun portion, a hammer having an end pivoted to said base at a point between said gun portion and one end of the base to swing on an axis extending across said base, said hammer having another end having a head, at least one firing pin secured to said head in a position to register with a shell chamber and strike and explode a tear gas shell present in such shell chamber as said hammer is moved toward said base into firing position from a cocked position away from said base, a solenoid mounted on said base at said one end of the base, said solenoid having an armature movable toward and away from said hammer, said armature having a retaining pin, spring means acting between said base and said hammer and urging said hammer toward its firing position, retaining means pivoted on said base and movable from a release position to a retaining position of engagement with said hammer for holding the hammer in its cocked position, said retaining means having a hole engageable by said retaining pin only in the retaining position of said retaining means, said solenoid being normally deenergized and said armature being arranged to be manually moved relative to the solenoid while the solenoid is deenergized and engaged in the hole in the retaining means whereby the hammer is retained in cocked position, and energizing means connectible to said solenoid for energizing the solenoid and withdrawing the arma- 10 ture retaining pin from the hole of the retaining means, said retaining means comprising a lever pivoted at one end on said base on an axis extending across the base, said lever having another end provided with said hole,

said lever being arranged to be manually swung to hammer retaining position and to be swung to release position by said hammer as the hammer is moved from cocked position to firing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,878,492 Goss Sept. 20, 1932 1,945,211 Waugh et a1. Jan. 30, 1934 1,970,719 Frantzius Aug. 21, 1934 2,037,129 Hilts Apr. 24, 1936 2,337,145 Albree Dec. 21, 1943 

